Meritor offering new optimized axle ratios

Meritor, Inc. has added optimized axle ratios to its 14X rear-drive axle portfolio, the company announced Friday.

Meritor’s 14X tandem drive axles with a 2.79 ratio will be available for production in June, and a 2.85 ratio will be ready later this summer. When used in combination with the Cummins and Eaton SmartAdvantage Powertrain, Meritor says the new axle ratios will improve fuel efficiency for linehaul applications through “downspeeding,” a process that maintains vehicle speed at lower engine rpms.

“With these new axle ratios, drivers will experience a fuel-economy ‘sweet spot’ at road speeds of 62 to 65 mph,” says Ken Hogan, general manager, Axles, North America for Meritor. “We’ve optimized this engine-transmission-axle combination to deliver uncompromising performance and efficiency.”

To maximize fuel economy and vehicle performance, fleets should consider the entire drivetrain, including engine parameters, transmission and rear-axle gearing and tire sizes, Hogan says, further suggesting fleets consult their OEMs, local engine distributors or Meritor representative to review exact vehicle and application needs. The 14X axles with 2.79 and 2.85 ratios are supported by DriveForce and OnTrac.

“The new axle ratios specifically target the needs of fuel efficiency-minded customers and are another example of how we are continually creating and updating our offerings to better-serve the industry,” Hogan says.